Container.



F. STEFFAN.

CONTAINER.

APPLICATION FILED ll'LY 3 1915.

Patend May 22, 1917.

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FRANK STEFFAN', OF RIVERSIDE, CALIFORNIA.

CONTAINER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 22, 1917.

Application led July 3, 1915. Serial No. 37,859.

To aZZ whom t may concern:

-Be it known that I, FRANK STEFFAN, a citizenv of vthe United States, residing at Riverside, in the county of Riverside and State of California, have invented new and 'useful Improvements in Containers7 of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvemen in containers, such for instance as cans, fruit jars or the like, whether made of glass, tin or other material, the object of the invention being to effect improvements in the construction of the neck or mouth of the body of the container and to also effect improvements in the construction of the cover whereby the cover automatically locks and secures itself when placed on the neck or mouth of the body and closes and hermetically seals thus enabling its contents to be indefinitely preserved.

With the above and other objects in view the invention consists in the construction and arrangement of devices hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings.

Figure l is a sectional view of a portion of the container cover constructed in aecordance with my invention, and with the cover removed.

Fig. 2 is a similar view of the same with the cover in closed position.

For the purposes of this specification the body 1 of the container is shown as a tin can. The body of the container may be of any suitable size, shape and construction and may be made of sheet metal, glass or any other suitable material. In accordance with my invention the mouth, neck or open end of the body of the container is provided with a flange or wall 2 which extends around and bounds the same and this flange or wall is provided on its outer side with a bead 3 which is here shown as substantially semieircularfin cross section, providing an upper cam surface 4, a lower cam surface 5 and a ridge 6 between said cam surfaces and into which they merge. Below this cam bead .is a bead 7 which forms a shoulder that extends around the mouth, neck or opening of the container body. The cover 8 is formed with a flange, wall or skirt 9 which is resilient and is adapted to fit over the bead 6. The cover is here shown yas made of sheet metal and with an integral flange, wall or skirt and may be constructed of any suitable material and in any suitable Y- way which provides or admits of the pro-V vision of the resilient flange, wall or skirt.

I also provide 'a elenchiug flange 10'on the inner side and at the lower edge of the flange, wall or skirt 9 and which is here shown as integral therewith and inturned therefrom and arranged in reverse relation thereto. This clenching flange presents an inclined inner surface, or said clenching flange being substantially frusto conical in form and with its free ,upper or inner edge normally spaced from the wall, flange or skirt 9 of the cover. The diameter of the cover is suoli as to cause it to fit closely around the wall 2 of the neck, mouth, or opening of the container body and when the cover is forced thereon its clenching flange 10 rides over the bead 3 is extended thereby as it passes over the ridge of the bead and then by its own elasticity andthe elasticity of the flange, wallor skirt 9 contracts on the lower cam surface 5 of said body thereby securing and holding the ,cover in place.

A gasket 11 which may be made of any suitable material, such for instance as waxed paper stock is placed in the cover so that when the latter is' closed on the neck,l or mouth of the container body the container is hermetically sealed, the tension and constructionl of the wall or flange or skirt and of the clenching flange of the container and the camming action of the bead 3 causing the gasket to be tightly pressed between the cover and edge of the wall 2 and hence keep the container hermetically sealed.. The shoulder 'or wall 7 of the container body enables a knife or other suitable implement to be readily used for insertion under the edgeof the cover and to pry off or start the cover and enable the latter to be removed. This body 7 also reinforcesand strengthens the container body.

Vhile I have herein shown and described an embodiment of my invention I would have it understood that changes may be made in the form', proportion and construction of the several portions without departing from the spirit of my invention and within the scope of the appended claim.

Having thus described my invention I claim:-

In a container, a. body having a cylindrical wall around its neck or lmouth provided with an exteriorly arranged `bead which presents a ridge, an upper cam surface and a lower vcam surface which merge into said the lower camming surface of said body ridge, in combination with a cover having bead to closely and tightly hold the cover a cylindrical wall adapted to lit around said in place.

bead and `also having an' inwardly and up- In testimony whereof I affix my signature 5 wardly extending elastic clenching flange on in presence of two witnesses. v

the inner and lower side of said wall and y FRANK STEFFAN.

normally spaced at its inner edge therefrom and adapted to ride over the bead of the Witnesses: container body and by spring action engage WALLACE Hoon, 10 its inner, free edge against and co-act with MARGARET CLEMENT. 

